PM visits disaster zone

THE painstaking search for people still missing in the Tasmanian bushfires continues.

Teams of police, Tasmanian and interstate fire services, SES and army reserves were yesterday picking their way through the ruins of houses in the area south of the worst hit town, Dunalley.

Around 250 properties have already been searched in and around Dunalley, including 90 badly damaged or destroyed buildings, but no bodies located.

Police are reluctant to put an exact figure on the number still missing but Acting Commissioner Scott Tilyard suggested there had been little change from the 100 who were unaccounted for on Sunday.

"About 500 inquiries still need to be confirmed that people have definitely been accounted for," Mr Tilyard said yesterday.

"There's a significantly lower number of people that we do have more serious concerns about.

"Yesterday it was around about 100 people."

Teams in overalls and masks were working in Dunalley, while 65 searchers were heading to the more densely-forested areas of Murdunna and Sommers Bay.

"It will be a period of time to come yet before we're in a position to say that no one has died as a result of these fires," he said.

The Tasman Peninsula remained cut off yesterday but police had begun escorting convoys to deliver badly needed supplies and were assessing whether to let the hundreds still stranded leave.

The Nubeena community was still looking after 500 people and Port Arthur around 250.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard got through, touring Dunalley after her motorcade was taken into the area under police escort.

"There's really no way of fully appreciating it apart from seeing it yourself," Ms Gillard said.

"(But) the fact that we can stand here shouldn't fool people into thinking that there's no continuing firefighting going on."

Ms Gillard defended her itinerary with many residents from Dunalley still unable to return because of safety concerns.

"I understand the frustration of people who want to get back to see what's happened to their home," Ms Gillard said.

"The thing that would be worse ... would be to try to go and see it and get hurt doing so."

Energy supplier Aurora said about 3000 homes on the peninsula were without power, and some could expect to remain so for several weeks.

Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings, who cut short a holiday in the UK, warned the fire danger was not over.

"It's very important people remain vigilant," she said.

Speaking to the media at the Dunalley Primary School are (front from left) Premier Lara Giddings and Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and (back from left) Deputy Premier Bryan Green and Federal Member for Lyons, Dick Adams.